Pulmonary tuberculosis is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, which produces characteristic tuberculous changes in the lung. This disease may also affect other organs: bones, joints, lymphatic glands, kidneys, etc. The causative agent of tuberculosis was discovered by Koch in 1882.
In the early stage of tuberculosis the patient usually complains of a general malaise, fatigue, loss of appetite and bodyweight. Cough may be dry or productive, i. e. with sputum discharge. Coughing becomes worse at night and in the morning. In patients with cavities in the lungs coughing is accompanied by a considerable discharge of sputum.
Sputum is mucopurulent. Its microscopic examination reveals a large number of pus corpuscles, erythocytes, and tuberculous organisms. Blood in the sputum is sometimes the first sign of tuberculosis. If large blood vessels are involved the discharge of blood may become profuse.
Fever is one of the permanent symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis. In benign processes the body temperature is often subfebrile. In active forms it may range from 38° to 39°C. A considerable elevation of temperature is observed in pneumonic forms, when fever persists at a level of 38°C and higher for several months.
Cold profuse perspiration at night is sometimes evidence of a severe form of tuberculosis. Loss of body weight is one of the typical signs of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is caused by tuberculous intoxication, a sharp increase in the metabolic rate and loss of appetite. Loss of body weight is particularly marked in progressive forms of the disease.
VII. Переведите слова и словосочетания о скобках. Предложения переведите:
1. It is sometimes difficult to make a correct diagnosis (в ранних стадиях) of some diseases. 2. (Потеря аппетита) is a very important symptom, which a physician must always pay particular attention to. 3. (Повышение температуры) has been persisting for several months since it was a pneumonic form of tuberculosis. 4. Dullness in the lungs, accelerated respiration, dry or moist rales and crepitation may be (доказательством) of lobular pneumonia. 5. (Резкое увеличение) of the number of leucocytes is often the evidence of a certain inflammatory process in the human body.
